Obama gets grief for male-only basketball games

"I gotta say, I think this is bunk," Obama told Guthrie. "Basically, the House of Representatives has a basketball game and they had wanted to play here at the White House court and we invited them."

"I don't know if there are women who— were Members of Congress who play basketball on a regular basis," Obama continued. "I don't think there are. You know, I don't think sends any kind of message or signal whatsoever."

Male vs. Female

That's where there's plenty of disagreement. A conversation on MSNBC's "Cup of Joe" last week might provide some insight as to how people are viewing the issue.

The host of the show, Joe Scarborough, agrees with the president. Holding his head in his hands at one point during Wednesday's program, the former Republican congressman seemed genuinely pained that his colleague -- Guthrie -- spent any portion of her one-on-one with the president on the issue.

Comparing the topic to flaky "balloon boy" coverage, Scarborough told Guthrie, "Speaking for all men -- that was bunk. That question was bunk. What were you thinking?"

"This is a really interesting issue," Guthrie began.

"No, it's not," Scarborough interrupted.

Guthrie explained that the disagreement over the issue seemed to break down across gender lines.

"Most men I talk to say, 'What's the big deal? So a guy can't play basketball?'" she said. "But many, many serious thinking women say, 'Let's call this for it is: This is a networking opportunity. This is a political event."